Does Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball Make Pelicans Playoff Bound?

Zion Williamson, the number one overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft has garnered the most attention entering the draft arguably since LeBron James did back in 2003.

Many people try to find comparisons, but it’s hard to nail a player that’s comparable to what Williamson brings to the table. At 6’7, 285lbs, he’s the second heaviest player in the league to Boban Marjanovic, and has a vertical of 45-inches. LeBron James’ had a vertical of 40 entering the draft in 2003. Williamson coming into the league will already be one of the strongest and athletically gifted players in the NBA.

The Charles Barkley comparisons don’t match-up because Barkley didn’t have the conditioning and defensive presence Williamson has, although Barkley is one of the greatest of all-time. The Blake Griffin comparisons hold some weight, but not in its’ entirety. Griffin came into the league in 2009 as one of the premier dunkers and athletes in the NBA, and he also made the all-star team during his first year. Williamson is a better ball-handler and a faster sprinter. Williamson also is a great shot-blocker already.

Lonzo Ball will make Williamson better because Ball is probably the most unselfish point guard in the league and is always looking to get his teammates involved. A fast-break with Zion and Lonzo is a match made in heaven.

The Western Conference is wide opened, but it’s still tough. Teams like Golden State, Oklahoma City, Houston, Denver, Portland, San Antonio, and the Lakers will probably be in the playoffs due to their star power, and if Kawhi Leonard joins the Clippers they’ll be there as well. It’s hard for me to imagine New Orleans beating out anyone of those teams, but they’re certainly a team that’s going to be tough to play night in night out, and they’ll be there in the future. It’s all part of growing pains.

Errol Spence v. Shawn Porter September- Who Wins?

The welterweight unification fight between Errol “The Truth” Spence and “ShowTime” Shawn Porter is set for Sept. 2019, but the exact date has yet to be announced. Spence at 25-0, 21 knockouts is ranked at #4 pound for pound in the world, while Porter at 30-2, 17 knockouts isn’t top 10 on anybody’s list. Porter is the current WBC Welterweight champion, while Spence holds the IBF title.

Spence is the naturally bigger man at 5-foot-9, while Porter is listed at 5’7. Spence’s physical statue and athleticism gives him the nod over Porter in my opinion, but it’s going to be a slug-fest. Although Mikey Garcia did go up 2-weight classes to fight Spence in April, 2019, Spence completely dominated Garcia. The only thing that stopped Garcia from getting stopped was his championship pedigree. At the time he was 39-0 with 31-knockouts. This is why Spence is favored in this fight.

Even though the odds aren’t in Porter’s favor, he can’t be counted out. His two loses came to former champions Keith “One Time” Thurman and Kell Brook, so obviously he’s not a bad fighter and stands a punchers’ chance. Porter does have some impressive victories over Adrien Broner and Danny Garcia.

The winner of this fight will most likely face the winner of the Keith Thurman v. Manny Pacquiao fight for another unification, then fight Terence “Bud” Crawford for that number one spot in the welterweight division.

Regardless of a persons’ personal bias or favorite fighter, it’s hard to dispute the fact that this is an exciting time in the welterweight division.